'How must an individual request a reasonable accommodation?'

 
Requesting Reasonable Accommodation

Excerpt 1:
'How must an individual request a reasonable accommodation?'

When an individual decides to request accommodation, the individual or his/her representative must let the employer know that s/he needs an adjustment or change at work for a reason related to a medical condition. To request accommodation, an individual may use "plain English" and need not mention the ADA or use the phrase "reasonable accommodation."'
_____________________________________________

Excerpt 2:
'Requests for reasonable accommodation do not need to be in writing. Individuals may request accommodations in conversation or may use any other mode of communication. An employer may choose to write a memorandum or letter confirming the individual's request. Alternatively, an employer may ask the individual to fill out a form or submit the request in written form, but the employer cannot ignore the initial request. An employer also may request reasonable documentation that the individual has an ADA disability and needs a reasonable accommodation.'
______________________________________________

Reference: www.eeoc.gov

 

Thieving Mailman Nets Jail Time For Flix

 
Thieving Mailman Nets Jail Time For Flix
"Springfield, MA (AHN) - ...plead guilty this week to stealing more than 30,000 DVDs from the mail. Weathers, who worked at the Postal Service's bulk processing center..."

Read more: Read More

Reference: www.allheadlinenews.com

 

Specter, Unions Disagree on Path for Overhaul of Labor Laws

 
Specter, Unions Disagree on Path for Overhaul of Labor Laws
"...Mr. Specter has for months been trying to broker a deal to revive the bill. He said Tuesday that Democratic senators participating in the talks included himself, Tom Harkin of Iowa, Chuck Schumer of New York, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Thomas Carper of Delaware. Union leaders and business groups kept their distance from Mr. Specter's effort...."
Reference: online.wsj.com

 

H1N1 Virus Expected to Cause High Prolonged Absenteeism Numbers

 
Government outlines H1N1 flu guidelines for small businesses
"...agency encourages small businesses to put strategies in place before the flu season hits to be ready to deal with the possibility of prolonged absenteeism and, if the outbreak worsens, supply-chain disruptions...."
Reference: www.bizjournals.com

 

USPS Employee Unscheduled Leave Call-In Number

 
USPS Employee Unscheduled Leave Call-In Number
Lost the Unscheduled leave call-in number? If you have lost the call-in number, you might want to bookmark the site referenced below for those rare occasions you become ill and need to use unscheduled leave. With the possible H1N1 pandemic expected to reek havoc on us all, it might be a good idea to be prepared.
Reference: USPS Employee Unscheduled Leave Call-In Number

 

Privatized postal service would cause big problems

 
Privatized postal service would cause big problems
"...The increase in postage rates can be directly attributed to the growth of private sector mail processing networks which profit from workshare discounts. This process has reduced postage for mailers at the expense of the consumer..."
Reference: www.pennlive.com

 

At a crucial juncture, union leader is retiring

 
At a crucial juncture, union leader is retiring
"...John J. Sweeney, who rose to the pinnacle of US unionism from his roots as a son of immigrants, is stepping down this month as president of the AFL-CIO...."
Reference: www.boston.com

 

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009

 
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009
"...The vote was nearly perfectly split along party lines, with only three Republicans voting in favor (Ed Whitfield of Kentucky, Don Young of Alaska and Chris Smith of New Jersey) and two Democrats voting nay (Travis Childers of Mississippi and Parker Griffith of Alabama). ..."
Reference: wikipedia.org

 

Obama Quote

 
Obama Quote
"Every American owes something to the American labor movement" - President Obama [Labor Day Address/Labor Day picnic in Ohio, September 7, 2009]
Reference: npmhu317.blogspot.com/

 

North Alabama Mail Processing Changes

 
Official: Postal service change won't have much impact here
"...In an effort to cut costs, the Athens post office will soon send magazines and magazine-sized mail to Birmingham for processing rather than to Huntsville. One source says the change will slow the mail and force Huntsville workers to transfer,..."
Reference: www.enewscourier.com

 

Labor history of the United States

 
Labor history of the United States
"...Labor history of the United States describes the history of organized labor, as well as the more general history of working people in the United States of America. Pressures dictating the nature and power of organized labor have included the evolution and power of the corporation, efforts by employers and private agencies to limit or control unions, and U.S. labor law. As a response, organized unions and labor federations have competed, evolved, merged, and split against a backdrop of changing social philosophies and periodic federal intervention...."
Reference: wikipedia.org

 

Labor Day

 
Labor Day
"...The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City.[1] In the aftermath of the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the US military and US Marshals during the 1894 Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with Labor as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.[2] Cleveland was also concerned that aligning a US labor holiday with existing international May Day celebrations would stir up negative emotions linked to the Haymarket Affair.[3] All 50 U.S. states have made Labor Day a state holiday...."
Reference: wikipedia.org

 

RETIREMENT-SEPARATION INCENTIVE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

 
RETIREMENT-SEPARATION INCENTIVE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Memorandum of Understanding
Between The
United States Postal Service
And The
National Postal Mail Handlers Union, AFL-CIO,
A Division of the Laborers’ International Union of North America



Re: One-time Retirement Incentive

The parties agree that the Postal Service will make lump sum incentive payments totaling $15,000 (less applicable taxes and deductions) to eligible full-time career employees who choose optional retirement, retire pursuant to a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA), or voluntarily separate from the Postal Service. Part-time employees shall be eligible for a prorated amount, as provided below. These payments are subject to the following terms and conditions.

1. All career employees covered by the USPS-NPMHU 2006-2011 National Agreement are eligible for incentives pursuant to this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) except for employees in a probationary status on the date of this MOU or employees who have a pending notice of discharge that was received on or before the date of this MOU.

2. Within thirty (30) days of the signing of this MOU, employees must indicate in a manner prescribed by the Employer their intent to participate in the retirement incentive program by indicating that they wish to take optional retirement, retirement pursuant to a VERA, or voluntary separation. Full-time employees will be assigned by the Employer a retirement or separation date of October 31 or November 30, 2009 based on operational need, or, at the employees’ option, they may retire or separate on or before September 30, 2009. Part-time flexible and part-time regular employees will be assigned a retirement or separation date of November 30, 2009. Employees who indicate they are taking a VERA under the terms of this MOU and wish to revoke their decision must do so on or before September 25, 2009.

3. The $15,000 incentive for eligible full-time career employees will be paid as follows. For those employees who separate or retire on October 31 or November 30, a $10,000 payment will be effective within two full pay periods after they retire or separate. For employees who separate or retire on or before September 30, the $10,000 payment will be effective pay period 21, to be paid October 16, 2009. The remaining $5,000 payment shall be effective for all eligible employees the first full pay period in October 2010 (pay period 22, to be paid October 29, 2010).

Part-time flexible and part-time regular employees shall receive incentive payments that are prorated based on the number of hours paid in the twenty-six full pay periods prior to the effective date of this MOU, in accordance with the following schedule:

Number of Paid Hours Percent of Incentive Payment

Under 520 25
520 and under 1020 50
1020 and under 1520 75
1520 and over 100

The prorated percentage shall be applied separately to the $10,000 and $5,000 payments. These payments shall be made on the same dates as for full-time employees.

An employee who accepts the incentive payment, and subsequently seeks future employment with the Postal Service, must return the incentive payment received to the Postal Service as a precondition for employment, unless a period of two years has passed from the date of retirement or separation and the date of rehire.

4. If excessive numbers of employees in particular offices take advantage of the provisions of this MOU, the parties at the national level will discuss the terms for relaxing contractual restrictions on casual use for a reasonable period of time (not to exceed 60 days past December 31, 2009) in order to meet operational needs. In such circumstances, the Employer reserves the right to amend the retirement and separation dates in paragraph 2 to the extent reasonably necessary to meet operational needs, but in no event later than December 31, 2009.

The parties further agree that these incentives will be provided to no more than 30,000 employees in the Mail Handler and APWU bargaining units combined. If more than 30,000 employees indicate that they wish to take advantage of the terms of this MOU, the number allocated to each of the bargaining units shall be proportional to the number of employees in the bargaining units that are eligible for these incentives. The parties agree to meet and discuss implementation of this paragraph once the number of employees indicating a desire to take advantage of this MOU reaches 25,000.

5. This MOU has the potential to impact pending excessing actions. In order to give the Postal Service time to review and consider those impacts, the parties agree to a moratorium on excessing from the date of this MOU through October 9, 2009. The parties recognize that they may need to discuss the proper application or modification of notice requirements under the provisions of Article 12 based on the impact of this MOU.

Any disputes arising under this MOU will be referred to the National Administrative Committee for discussion and resolution.

This MOU is without prejudice to the positions of the parties on any issue and shall not be cited in any dispute resolution proceedings, except for the purpose of enforcing its terms.


_Original Signed___ _Original Signed___
Anthony J. Vegliante John F. Hegarty
Executive Vice President and National President
Chief Human Resources Officer National Postal Mail
United States Postal Service Handlers Union, AFL-CIO

Date: __8/24/09_
Reference: www.npmhu.org

 

NEW RETIREMENT-SEPARATION OPPORTUNITIES ANNOUNCED WITH INCENTIVES UP TO $15,000

 
NEW RETIREMENT-SEPARATION OPPORTUNITIES ANNOUNCED WITH INCENTIVES UP TO $15,000
After in-depth discussions between NPMHU and USPS representatives at the headquarters level, the Postal Service has agreed to offer financial incentives for a new round of retirement and separation opportunities for most Mail Handlers. Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by both parties on August 24, 2009, those eligible Mail Handlers who choose to leave employment with the USPS will each receive incentive payments totaling up to fifteen thousand dollars (for full-time employees). These incentives will be available (with certain restrictions) to all Mail Handlers who are currently eligible for regular retirement, voluntary early retirement, and all other employees who may wish to separate from the Postal Service. Details are outlined below in the Memorandum of Understanding (which also is available for review on the NPMHU website at www.npmhu.org).

The NPMHU is pleased to have reached this agreement with USPS, as it may provide a financial cushion, and added peace of mind for Mail Handlers who might be prepared to move on to the next chapter of their lives – particularly during these extremely difficult economic times. To the extent that some Mail Handlers or other eligible postal employees choose to retire because of this incentive, the MOU also may benefit other Mail Handlers who will experience less excessing, more bidding opportunities, and other possible consequences of reduced staffing.

Please understand that none of the information in this bulletin should be considered as official retirement advice, and the NPMHU National Office assumes no responsibility for any decisions that you may make about your retirement or separation from the USPS. We have provided you with all of the pertinent information surrounding this offer. However, we realize that retirement/separation from the Postal Service is a very personal decision, based on each individual’s own finances and circumstances. Therefore, the National office is not authorized and cannot provide individual retirement advice. You should seek such advice from the USPS at retirement counseling sessions which will be scheduled in your area, and you also may wish to consult with your own financial advisor on this important decision. There are many personal and financial factors to be considered if you are thinking of accepting this incentive offer. For just some examples, you need to consider your personal family and health situation; how your health insurance, life insurance, and other benefits may be affected; what your future sources of income will be; and whether you have alternative plans and opportunities.
The Postal Service has made retirement videos available on the liteblue web site at: https://liteblue.usps.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/.scr/Login. You will need to log in with your employee ID number and PIN, and then go to the “MY LIFE” tab and underneath the “My Benefits” section, click on “Retirement Seminar Online.” There is a CSRS version, a FERS version, and also a video on “other benefits.” Also available at the site are workbooks to download as study aids. The sessions are presented in modules that vary in length from 4 minutes to 25 minutes, and they were specifically developed for Postal Services employees only, not for those of other federal agencies. The modules can be viewed in any order, but it is recommended that the basic information modules be viewed first.
The Postal Service has informed the NPMHU that it will be offering retirement seminars, on-the-clock¸ that employees will be able to attend. The USPS also will be issuing a list of ‘frequently asked questions’ (FAQs) to answer some of the many questions that will arise from the field.

Again, any Mail Handler who may be considering this incentive-based retirement or separation option should closely review the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding, do the necessary research on the liteblue webpage, and participate in a USPS retirement counseling session to ensure that any and all questions are answered prior to applying for this retirement or separation option.
Reference: www.npmhu.org

 

Postal Service Offering a $15,000 Retirement Incentive

USPS Offers $15,000 Retirement or Resignation Incentive
The United States Postal Service is offering a $15,000 Retirement or resignation incentive to certain employees. The first installment will be $10,000 in November 2009 and the other $5000 will be one year later. Mailings will go out in the next few days to eligible employees. Stay tuned for more details. Update coming soon. The Postal Newsgroup

Women accused of using post office to ship drugs plead not guilty

 
Women accused of using post office to ship drugs plead not guilty
"...conspiracy with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute and using the postal facility at Los Indios to distribute nearly 500 pounds of the illegal drug, records show...."
Reference: www.brownsvilleherald.com

 

"Postal Service is intent on reducing its physical presence"

  Excerpts from August 6, 2009, Senate Hearing
Excerpts from August 6, 2009, Senate Hearing
"..."Whether it is 5-day delivery, collection box removal or the closure of facilities, the Postal Service is intent on reducing its physical presence." - Ruth Y. Goldway, Commissioner, Postal Regulatory Commission..."
Reference: The Postal Newsgroup

 

USPS Voluntary Early Retirement (VER)

 
Excellent Suggestion Found on Online Postal Employee Community Forum
"...USPS should offer some type of liberal leave policy, as well as permitting a liberal "Leave of Absence" program, both designed and published as a program coinciding with the VER. This would give adequate time to find a job, go through the hiring process, and begin the new employment in an effort to ease the transition into a new life...."
Reference: postal-newsgroup.blogspot.com

 

Stopping Saturday mail delivery could mean layoffs for USPS

 
Stopping Saturday mail delivery could mean layoffs for USPS
"..."I can't say or guarantee that there wouldn't be layoffs," said Jordan Small, USPS acting vice president, during a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Federal Workforce, Postal Service and District of Columbia Subcommittee. Small added that he hoped personnel cuts could be made through attrition..."
Reference: www.govexec.com

 

Huntsville P&DF Welcomes New Plant Manager Hyde

Huntsville P&DF Welcomes New Plant Manager Hyde
The NPMHU 317 Officers and Stewards of the Huntsville Processing & Distribution Facility welcomes new Plant Manager Hyde. Plant Manager Hyde Replaces the Alabama Top Performing Plant Manager Doug Miller. The union is excited to have a permanent plant manager put in place at the facility. Huntsville has been subjected to one temporary plant manager after another, causing continued turmoil, lack of communication, and inconsistency in application of leadership. We hope the installation of a permanent plant manager will assist in reestablishing some sort of consistency in the workplace and a return of the facility to one of the top EXFC sites in the Country. Local Branch President of the Huntsville P&DF, Alex Dockery, is to meet with Plant Manager Hyde this week in an effort to address latent deficiencies at the plant and to reestablish a team spirit between management and the union, while emphasizing the need to live within the National Contract. Welcome Plant Manager Hyde!
Reference: npmhu317.blogspot.com

 

S. 1507

 
SENATE COMMITTEE ADDS ANTI-UNION AMENDMENT TO S. 1507
"...The NPMHU is now forced to oppose S. 1507. “The amendment makes this bill unacceptable,” declared NPMHU National President John Hegarty. “The original bill, which was proposed by the White House, was transformed into a vehicle which attacks collective bargaining for Mail Handlers and all craft employees.”..."
Reference: www.npmhu.org

 

Alabama Stations and Branches Identified for Closure or Consolidation

Alabama Stations and Branches Identified for Closure or Consolidation
Below you will find a list of Alabama Stations and Branches currently identified for either consolidation or closure. Click on the image to enlarge please.

Source: USPS
Reference: http://npmhu317.blogspot.com/

 

Union Action Alert

Postal News Alert!

Although this article is from the APWU site, all union members should take immediate action to protect their collective bargaining rights (please forward to all the postal employees you know and urge them to contact their senators to urge a "NO" vote. Thanks):

“If the bill passes as written, it will destroy collective bargaining for postal workers.” Burrus said.

From the APWU Article: "... Because a vote on the bill is expected early next week, before the Senate adjourns for its August recess, local and state activists must move quickly, Burrus said. The national union will hold a teleconference for local and state leaders on Monday, Aug. 3, at 2 p.m. EDT, to discuss the issue.

“I call on every APWU local to generate messages to their senators based on a 1 to 5 ratio of their members,” Burrus said. “If the bill passes as written, it will destroy collective bargaining for postal workers.”

The amendment would require arbitrators ruling on postal contracts to take into account the “financial health of the Postal Service.”

“Given the severity of Postal Service’s financial crisis, if this bill passes, we can anticipate that in the next round of negotiations, many of the things our members take for granted — such as cost-of-living increases, raises, and protection against layoffs — will be at risk.” Under current law, arbitrators must consider the “comparability” of postal wages to employees in the private sector who perform similar work.
Click here to email your senators: http://www.capwiz.com/apwu/issues/alert/?alertid=13812926 ...help protect your benefits and pay!
“In fact, arbitrators routinely consider the Postal Service’s financial status as part of the context of negotiations,” Burrus said. “However, to attach this specific requirement to the law leaves workers at a severe disadvantage. ..."  
Source:

USPS Hits GAO "High Risk" List (Opinion)

 

USPS Hits GAO "High Risk" List

Editor. (views and opinions are not necessarily that of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union)

The Government Accountability Office has placed the U.S. Postal Service on their financial instability 'High Risk' List. 'The Postal Service urgently needs to work with Congress and other key stakeholders to develop and implement a restructuring plan to help put it on a more sustainable financial path. By adding the U.S. Postal Service's financial condition to the High-Risk List, we hope to bring attention to the agency's financial viability and its ability to provide sustainable, affordable, high-quality mail service,' said Gene L. Dodaro, Acting Comptroller General of the United States and head of the GAO.

The GAO report targets, unfortunately, employee damaging fixes while not addressing major issues contributing to the financial decline. Not addressed were overly generous work-share discounts^[1] to mailers and Negotiated Service Agreements which are special rate and service arrangements between the USPS and a mailer^[2]. Additionally, many USPS facilities, plants, and processing facilities have been staffed continuously with "detailed" (temporary) staffing and managers, causing inflated costs due to continued per diem type expenses, to include lodging, mileage, etc.

As a union steward, I continuously see the same union contract violations repeated over and over again, without holding managers responsible for correcting the issues. The grievances are often paid, but the issues never corrected. The repeated violations center around Improper By-Pass Overtime, Crossing Crafts, and Casuals in Lieu Of, costing the USPS untold amounts of money. This is an area where the postal service Labor Representatives could invoke some trend analysis to determine which managers and facilities repeatedly propagate these costly violations. This would permit the USPS to either educate the poorly performing managers or shed themselves of the poorly performing leaders. This is not taking place. Managers are not held accountable for their fiscal deficiencies, which should be a first and vital path to cost reduction. Instead, GAO focuses on issues that suggest the reduction of employee benefits, contributing to the rapid decline of the American working-class in this country. GAO suggest Reduction of compensation and benefit costs through retirements, early retirements (without suggesting changes to the antiquated OPM limits on monetary incentives to facilitate the willingness to retire early), increasing health and life insurance benefit costs to the employee, and consolidations that negatively impact employees by excessing them to distant facilities. Although GAO's intent may have been to provide an objective analysis, it gives the appearance of too much protection of the Direct Mailing Industry by overlooking this as a target area for radical improvement and profitability through reduction of costly discounts, as well as overlooking the effectiveness Cost-benefit analysis relative to the aforementioned issues ...but hey, I am just a Mail Handler, what do I know? I know that the "Voice of the Employee" and a non-adversarial union and management team effort is vital to the efficiency and effectiveness of operations and the return to financial stability.

In synopsis, hold leaders to a standard of accountability that will result in the reduction of costly repetitive contract violations (this does not mean altering the contracts to remove employee protections), apply the concepts of trend analysis and Cost-benefit analysis, and eliminate cost-escalating discounts for direct mailers (discounts are fine if they are profitable and not just put in place to generate profitless volume). As far as Mail Handlers, we will all continue to work hard to provide expedient and quality delivery of the mail to our customers!

If you have suggestions for cost reduction, please click the comment link below and share your thoughts:
Comments


Visit NPMHU 317 at: http://npmhu317.blogspot.com/

Source: PDF Document: GAO Puts USPS on "High Risk" List
_______________________________________
1. Alberta, Paul M. "Gleiman Blasts USPS Over Workshare Discounts." Direct. Apr 22, 1999 12:00 PM,http://directmag.com/news/marketing_gleiman_blasts_usps/
2. Burrus, William. "Postal Regulatory Commission: USPS Could Lose Millions in Proposed Deal." American Postal Workers Union. 2009. http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2007/webart-0799-boa-nsa-071029.htm




Click the Image Below to Enlarge to 100%

 

Rumors of USPS Being Unable to Make Payroll Are Just That

 
Rumor Control: USPS Payroll
"...Rumors abound on the internet about the USPS being unable to make payroll in October of this year...."
Reference: postal-newsgroup.blogspot.com

 

Huntsville P&DF Mail Handler Job Bidding Temporarily Cancelled

 
Huntsville P&DF Mail Handler Job Bidding Temporarily Cancelled
"...Bid Posting 18676 has temporarily been cancelled. The bids should be re-posted soon. The posting was cancelled in order to facilitate the altering of a Begin Tour time on the Tour I Bid. Additionally, the union successfully grieved and had sustained the recent job reversion that was posted. This job will be posted on the August bid cycle (posted by the first Tuesday of the August. ..."
Reference: npmhu317.blogspot.com

 

Huntsville P&DF Job Bidding (0000018676)

Huntsville P&DF Mail Handler Job Bidding
Bidding is open for three positions. Below is a screen capture of the open bids:



Reference: liteblue

 

Does Federal Law Limit Post Office Consolidation?

 
Does Federal Law Limit Post Office Consolidation?
"...The laws of economics say the U.S. Postal Service needs to reduce the number of post offices. But the laws of the United States may say otherwise...."
Reference: From the blog titled Dead Tree Edition [deadtreeedition.blogspot.com]

 

Consolidating?

The 'image' found below is a snipping from an article found on the APWU site. The article references an Excel spreadsheet containing an updated list of 3,243 stations and branches in Level-24-and-above installations that are being reviewed. The snipping is from the spreadsheet.:

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Reference: http://npmhu317.blogspot.com/